When you're around for 60 years, you make it into a lot of scrapbooks and memories.

Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena gave generations of visitors good times, from ice shows and Packers encounters to unforgettable rock shows and backstage moments.

Readers share some of their favorite memories of the building whose entertaining run has come to an end.

John Lee Hooker gets booed

My first concert was at Brown County arena in early 1970. I was 14 years old and my mom took me there and picked me up after. John Lee Hooker was 52 years old and opened up for Canned Heat. He sat in a chair and played his electric guitar in the style that made him famous. Unfortunately, the crowd didn’t care for him and booed this blues icon. Canned Heat played the original Woodstock about six months prior. Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson would not make it through the year, dying on Sept. 3, 1970, of a drug overdose, believed to be a suicide. He’s in the 27 Club (artists who died at age 27). I can still hear Bob “Bear” Hite wailing away on his mouth harp. It was a super cool act to see in Green Bay. My ticket was $2.50.

Tom Mann, Green Bay

Tanya Junkans of De Pere was there for the 1986 KISS show with the bomb threat.(Photo: Courtesy of Tanya Junkans)

KISS and Aqua Net

The KISS concert on March 6, 1986, was the most memorable. I recall having my purse searched for liquor or cameras, and they pulled out a “30% More Free” Aqua Net aerosol hairspray — huge can. (They let me keep it, thankfully.) During King Kobra we were asked to exit the arena. Word spread of a bomb threat. Some pandemonium occurred, while others were unhappy we had to go outside. Upon reentry they never checked ticket stubs. I often wondered how many people sneaked in.

Tanya Junkans, De Pere

Lombardi, Starr, Taylor

Dec. 12, 1961: I was 10 and went to a Packers championship rally. I got to meet all my favorite players and received autographs from Vince Lombardi, Jim Taylor and Bart Starr. They were just walking around with a couple hundred of us kids.

John Enderby, Shawnee, Kansas

Bobcats vs. Blackhawks

It was 1966, and I was 13 years old for Green Bay Bobcats vs. NHL Chicago Blackhawks in an exhibition game. I was there with my dad, who grew up in Chicago and was a Hawks fan. Green Bay Bobcat Paul Coppo scores the first goal of the game and the crowd goes wild. A deafening roar. Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Glenn Hall — the best NHL players in their day. I’ll never forget it.

Tony Cecchi, Green Bay

REO Speedwagon at the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena on Oct. 28, 1976.(Photo: Courtesy of Neville Public Museum of Brown County)

Teenage freedom

I saw so many shows but what stays with me is the freedom of being a teenager going with friends to a concert. Listening to the recorded music pumping through the PA as things on stage were tweaked. Waiting with the excitement of the preshow mic checks: snare-kick-toms, vocals, testing 1-2-3. The excitement of the lights going down, the screaming introductions and the smell of pot fuming through the crowd as the music started. I had it bad.

Curt Lefevre, Green Bay

'Cattle Call' time

When Eddy Arnold did his famous “Cattle Call,” his voice filled the arena. So good. That goes for the entire show. Also will never forget sitting in Row 1 midice for Holiday on Ice in the first or second year of the arena.

Tina Williquette of Green Bay cherishes the memory of seeing Elvis Presley with her mom in 1977.(Photo: Courtesy of Tina Wiliquette)

Me, mom and Elvis

The absolutely most memorable experience at the arena was being with my mother and sisters to see Elvis Presley. My mom and my sister, Patti, sat out all night in line waiting for the tickets to go on sale. My mother has every album he created and listened to him all the time. When Elvis got to the point where he was giving away scarves, sweaty ones, Patti and I rushed down with the hopes of getting one for her. We were not that lucky. She treasured her opportunity to be a part of “The Elvis experience” in Green Bay and treasured her mementos.

Tina Williquette, Green Bay

Breakfast in America in '79

Supertramp’s Breakfast in America Tour in 1979. Not often a major player, touring in support of a current smash album, stops in little ol’ Green Bay, but they did. The only band I know that included/listed their sound engineer (the late Russel Pope) as one of the band members. There was good reason why. Of all the bands I have ever heard at the arena, Supertramp is the only band I can recall that completely tamed the less than ideal (OK, horrific) acoustics. It was heavenly ear candy from start to finish. To date, still one of the best shows I have ever attended — anywhere.

Randy Bowles, De Pere

A Mother Nature cameo

The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970, and the Green Bay celebration was held at Brown County arena. In the middle of the event, rain (and hail?) from a huge thunderstorm beat down on the roof of the arena, drowning out the speakers. Mother Nature was not happy.

David Whiteman, Columbia, South Carolina

John Denver and Santa

Dec. 17, 1989: John Denver. Besides his hits, John also sang Christmas carols. Twenty-eight songs in all. What made it so memorable is that we rented a limo to take us there with our good friends, and my hubby Dennis decided to wear his Santa outfit. You should have seen him waving to the crowds from the limo and at the arena.

Claudia Naidl, Green Bay

John A. Hazuka of Green Bay enjoyed the arena in the early 1990s for University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball games. It was called the "Dick Dome" after coach Dick Bennett.(Photo: Courtesy of John A. Hazuka)

Packed with Phoenix fans

Fond memories of going to University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men’s basketball at the arena with my brother, Martin Hazuka, in the early 1990s. During this time, Phoenix followers were packing the arena. The team consisted of Coach Dick Bennett with players like his son, Tony Bennett, John Martinez, Gary Grzesk with a lot of other outstanding players. Remember watching the team go to the NCAA tournament a few times and beating California in the NCAA. During this era, the arena earned the nickname of “The Dick Dome,” and it was really rockin’ and rollin' then.

John A. Hazuka, Green Bay

Elvis from the bleachers

I was there for Elvis in 1977, but not in the front row. What an experience! My sister-in-law and I were in the bleachers towards the front, looking down, and I took pictures of a very small Elvis. At the time, I was working the camera counter at a drug store in Oshkosh. A guy came in with a roll of film for developing and said it was from the Elvis concert in Madison. There was a girl in the front row and he gave her $20 and his camera and she took several pictures for him. When he picked up the pictures, he gave me the negatives to send in for prints for myself.

Jean Dunn, Oshkosh

A wedding proposal

My favorite Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena memory is not a concert or a show but was a big event for many. My favorite memory is the day ex-UWGB basketball player Tony Bennett’s No. 25 was retired. After his jersey was raised to the rafters, Tony got down on one knee and proposed to his future wife, Laurel. The crowd went wild and tears were shed. Tony was a class act then and has been his entire life.

Christina Rosera, De Pere

Sonny & Cher for $6.95

My most memorable show would be my very first concert, Sonny & Cher in November 1965. I was 15 years old and so excited to see them in person. I was fairly close to the stage and screamed through the whole show. The other performers were Len Barry and Danny Hutton. Look at the price of that ticket ($6.95). “I Got You Babe” never sounded so good.

Lynn Czech, Pulaski

Tim Wentworth, right, was working for Midwest Communications when he posed with Tim McGraw backstage in the late '90s.(Photo: Courtesy of Tim Wentworth)

Hangin' with Tim McGraw

Many memories from the 1980s and feeling my whole body shake while standing on the concrete floor and listening to the Judas Priest Turbo Lover Tour to all the concerts promoted from 1996-2001 while working at Midwest Communications. My favorite picture from the late ’90s was with Tim McGraw with Y100 as the sponsor — a couple of Tims just hanging out back in the storied hallways of Brown County arena. I am now 20 years older and put on 20 pounds. McGraw now looks younger and lost way over 20 pounds. Cheers to 60 years of good times.

Tim Wentworth, Green Bay

Holiday on Ice in 'Oz'

As a young child in the late 1950s, it was watching Holiday on Ice that featured “The Wizard of Oz.” Lots of Green Bay Bobcat hockey. Then sneaking in on Sunday nights in the early ’70s to watch AWA wrestling.

Bill Anderson, Tampa, Florida

Rockin' in the Dick Dome

I believe 1991 was the best and loudest experience ever rockin’ and rollin’ in the Dick Dome. First trip to the NCAA tournament Division I. Great memories from the arena.

Arden Christensen, Green Bay

Colleen Dworak snapped this photo of country star Kenny Rogers during his 1980 concert.(Photo: Courtesy of Colleen Dworak)

Kenny and Dottie

I’d have to say my most memorable concert at the arena was Kenny Rogers in August of 1980, because it is the only concert I’ve ever been to where I had a front row seat. I remember Kenny smiling when the audience sang along to “Lucille” and, of course, sang “400 hundred children” instead of “four hungry children.” Dottie West also performed with him. I remember her costumes being really sparkly, but she came across as really warm and genuine — definitely a true country legend.

Colleen Dworak, Denmark

Shaking hands with Sonny

In November 1965, I went to the Sonny & Cher concert with my friend Cindy. Our tickets cost $7.50. Those were the highest-priced ones. Third row seats, I believe. After the concert, I ran up to the stage and got to shake hands with Sonny.

Nancy Kaczmarzinski, Oneida

Laura Benesh was 16 when she met Poison singer Bret Michaels at the arena in the '80s. She got a photo with him again on April 6, 2019, when he played the final concert at the building.(Photo: Courtesy of Laura Benesh)

Meeting Bret Michaels

My most memorable show at the Brown County arena was by far Poison and being able to meet my idol Bret Michaels at age 16. His music got me through moments in my life where I questioned even existing. I relived that moment 25 years later, and he couldn't believe I saved the picture and kept a copy. I relived it again April 6 for the last Brown County arena show with Bret Michaels.

Laura Benesh, Little Suamico

Mom-to-be at Elvis

It was Elvis Presley — “The King” himself. I was pregnant at the time, and the baby born a few months later — local pianist/vocalist Jamie Lynn Fletcher — was obviously influenced by Elvis’ music the night of the concert, having been in attendance, too.

Jerilyn Fletcher, Greenleaf

Supertramp and Short Stuff

My most memorable Brown County arena concert was Supertramp. I don’t recall the specific date, but it was in the mid-’70s around the time they released their “Breakfast in America” album. What made it extra special was Supertramp’s backup band for the evening canceled, so they got a Wisconsin homegrown band by the name of Short Stuff to fill in. My brother-in-law, Mark Lamar Plopper, was the lead guitar player for Short Stuff and got several of us backstage passes. And believe me, the concert wasn’t the only awesome thing that night ... meeting Supertramp and the backstage partying with them after was the real bomb for me.

Mike Piaskowski, Howard

Randy Novak, Two Rivers, saw more than 30 rock concerts at the arena, including Metallica in 1989.(Photo: Courtesy of Randy Novak)

From MTV to Green Bay

Brown County arena will forever hold a special place in my heart, because it was the gateway to a lifetime of live music for me. At 16, I was able to drive from Manitowoc to the big metropolis of Green Bay to see KISS for the first time at the Brown County arena in 1986. After that I was hooked on concerts.

The mid to late ’80s were the golden age of MTV and especially “hair” metal bands. It seemed like the Brown County arena was at the epicenter. Who you saw on MTV one week was brought to life a few weeks later at the Brown County arena. I was a regular patron having rocked out to 32 shows at the Brown County arena during those golden years. I had crazy nights with KISS, became one with Metallica, went round and round with Ratt, got sweaty with uncle Teddy (Nugent), and had nothing but a good time with Poison.

Rockin’ with friends and not a care in the world. That’s how I will remember the Brown County arena.

Randy Novak, Two Rivers

'Hello, I'm Johnny Cash'

The show we remember best is the last performance in the arena by Johnny Cash. We had excellent seats down on the arena floor. A warmup band started off and performed for about an hour and a half, and then we had an intermission. At this point, we figured Johnny Cash would come out for a few songs and it would be over. Let me tell you, the unexpected happened. The whole arena went dark and a spotlight came on showing Johnny Cash onstage with his back turned to the audience. Then he turned around Johnny Cash style and said, “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash,” and from there it was two and a half hours of nonstop Cash.

Bernie and Chris Erickson, Green Bay

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Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy speaks at the arena in October 1960.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Being a Bobette, meeting JFK

I was employed by the arena as an usher. It was my favorite job of my life. But it was more than an usher, I was a Bobette. We worked every Bobcat hockey game with a terrific uniform. The players were our friends. I was in the same section for every event.

We met John F. Kennedy when he was in Green Bay campaigning before he became president. I have a signed letter thanking me. When the circus was in town we met the performers and became friends. I met Hugo Zucchini, the human cannonball, and many others. The Ice Follies were terrific, and we wore formals for these events. That was a whole week of work, as I remember.

People came up to me and said my section number on the street. What a dream of a job for a bright-eyed teenager.

Joyce Huntowski Paynter, Shawano

John Denver in the round

John Denver on Oct. 14, 1980. My first performance in the round. He was at his career peak. Great music.

Art Schmidt, Green Bay

Blue Oyster Cult at the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena on Oct. 12, 1979.(Photo: Courtesy of Neville Public Museum of Brown County)

First concert with the Doobies

I went to my first concert ever at Brown County arena. Curt Lefevre, the drummer in my high school rock band New Delhi Backroads, and I saw Firefall and The Doobie Brothers. I will never forget it.

Randy Stary, Green Bay

A Caravan of Stars

Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars, Herman’s Hermits and The Hollies around 1965 or 1966. The Beatles would never play the arena in the height of the British Invasion, so it was the poor man’s (the arena) version.

Pat Shea, Green Bay

Ice show Christmas gift

I lived in Stevens Point, and in the late 1950s, my dad announced that as a Christmas gift my parents were taking us to the new arena to see our first ice show. My two sisters and I were so excited to travel to a large city to see this wonderful event. We did it all in one day, and it was a very memorable family experience that I have always remembered.

Steve Jones, Allouez

Catching a 'Summer Breeze'

I saw a concert featuring Linda Ronstadt, Charlie Daniels and Al Stewart on the same bill. There was Gordon Lightfoot playing with the echo in the arena on “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” John Denver was in the round with a revolving stage. Seals & Crofts played “Summer Breeze.” Those are but a few enjoyable moments there.

Chuck Stoeger, Kewaunee

Grabbing Sonny's pant leg

My friend Gail and I went to see Sonny & Cher in 1965. When they came onstage, everyone rushed the stage. We got separated but she managed to get a hold of Sonny’s pant leg. I actually got to shake Cher’s hand. I was 17. I was elated.

Kris Person, Green Bay

Selling popcorn in the stands

I worked there for Brault’s Catering when I was 16 to 18 years old, making sodas and popcorn and selling in the stands for all events. We catered there for weddings, conventions and the circus.

Jim Bastien, Green Bay

Contact Kendra Meinert at 920-431-8347 or kmeinert@greenbay.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KendraMeinert.

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